West Seattle, Washington
17 Wednesday
A program offering free tennis lessons for youth 11-15 starting Tuesday has room in both West Seattle and South Park, and organizers asked us to help get the word out:
TENNIS ACES Middle School Program – FREE LESSONS – REGISTER TODAY
FREE tennis lessons for youth ages 11-15 starting next week and running for 6 weeks 2x/week until April 9th. Classes are outdoors with full covid protocols including temp checks, health questions, masks at all times, distancing, gloves for ball pickup, and frequent sanitizing. No equipment required and racquets will be provided for youth to keep.
*Southwest Teen Life Center site near Chief Sealth will have classes with Coach Amelia Aamot. Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:45 and Fridays from 3:15 – 4:30 pm. Only 12 spots available! REGISTER TODAY! Classes start 3/2! To register email Stephanie.Berry@Seattle.gov ACTIVE system program registration code is: #41199 but must be done with Stephanie Berry directly. Here’s the flyer.
*South Park Community Center site will have classes with Coach Brandon Baccam. Tuesdays 4:30 – 5:45 pm and Thursdays 4:30 – 5:45 pm. Only 6 spots available! REGISTER TODAY! Classes start 3/2. To register email Samuel.Chesneau@seattle.gov. ACTIVE system program registration code is #41201 but must be done by contacting Samuel directly. Here’s the flyer.
Have questions not related to registration? Contact Christina@Sportsinschools.org.
This program is brought to the community by Sports in Schools, a local non-profit organization, in partnership with the Amy Yee Tennis Center Advisory Council and the Seattle Sports Complex Foundation.
Another youth-sports league is opening registration – West Seattle Soccer Club is ready for a comeback after almost a year and a half. Here’s the announcement:
Recreational soccer is back in West Seattle now that we are in phase 2. Registration for our 2021 spring season opens March 1st. It will be our first time back since fall 2019 season. We have also returned to school year registration so children can play with their classmates:
2021 HSA Champions League Spring Season
REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY, MARCH 1STGo to westseattlesoccer.org
Play begins Sunday, April 18th.*
FEE for U6 – U12 is $75
Divisions by ACADEMIC YEAR (August 31st – July 31st)
NO PROMOTION FROM FALL (if your player was U9 in Fall, then U9 this Spring)
U13+ Divisions by BIRTH YEAR for play in Spring SSUL League
FEE for U13+ $100
PLEASE HELP US FIELD MORE TEAMS BY VOLUNTEERING TO COACH
Would you consider serving on the WSSC Board? We have openings.
Pickleball is popular – and you have a new option for where to play in West Seattle. The photo and announcement were sent by Verne:
Lifelong Recreation, in coordination with a program called Rec ’N the Streets, is offering a new playing option at Delridge Community Center courts.
Every Wednesday from 11 – 1 p.m. all four pickleball courts are being reserved for pickleball play. They are hoping to entice players to use these courts and to introduce new players to the game. Nets have been purchased, along with paddles and balls as well as some bright reflective court markers to help players see the court lines better.
Got a friend that wants to learn to play? Have them show up on Wednesdays at Delridge, 11 am-1 pm. Got some teens who need to get some PE credit? bring em to Delridge on Wednesdays.
It only lasts till mid April. Proper social distancing and masks are required.
The courts are next to the community center at 4501 Delridge Way SW.
(WSB photo from 2018)
Youth-sports registration season is continuing, and we’ve heard from another organization that’s inviting local youth to play – the Southwest Lacrosse Club:
Do you have kids who are looking for a fun new sport with which to get involved? The Titans, our local lacrosse league, is recruiting, and we want to help kids get back into outdoor activities using the best available safety protocols, while balancing the need to get kids active and outdoors again. If you’re interested in finding out what is so fun about the “fastest game on two feet”, keep reading and reach out to us or come on out to one of our practices beginning March 15th at Pathfinder K-8 from 5:30-7:00 pm
Founded in 2008, the Southwest Lacrosse Club (SWLC) is dedicated to the promotion, organization and development of lacrosse in the south end. Our mission is to teach lacrosse fundamentals and good sportsmanship, while emphasizing the importance of discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness. Players of all skill levels have the opportunity to develop their game, and we will prepare each athlete for the next level of play.
The club and region have had exciting growth and expansion over the past two years, helping initiate a new West Seattle Lacrosse Club (WSLAX) last season to support high-school players within the West Seattle High School boundaries.
This year, both clubs are working to grow the girls’ program (hosted by WSLAX) and field a full program of teams for 3rd through 8th grade girls. The joint program is actively seeking first time players from throughout the Southwest region, West Seattle to Des Moines and Federal Way. If your child is interested, please email us- we’d love to welcome them to a practice to get a feel for the game.
Not familiar with lacrosse? It’s explained here. If you have questions, or want to inquire about a scholarship, email swlctitans@gmail.com – otherwise, you can proceed to registration from this page.
Even as the snow continues melting, spring is just weeks away … and another youth-sports league is inviting players to register. The announcement is from West Seattle Girls Softball president Chrysta Torres:
West Seattle Girls Softball is open for registration!
We invite girls 6-15 with any level of softball experience to join us for a fun season of recreational-league fast-pitch softball. We teach the basics and build skills as players continue with the program and work to place players on teams that will be most beneficial to their needs. We are committed to having a safe and fun season, so we have implemented COVID safety protocols.
We’d also like to thank the local businesses that sponsor our league year after year – we cannot do it without their support.
Youth sports are expected to return this spring/summer. Here’s what one local league, West Seattle Baseball, just announced:
The West Seattle Baseball board of directors is excited to announce the first confirmed dates for the 2021 league calendar!
With our area having moved to “phase two” of the “Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery” plan, baseball activities, including league competition, are permitted. As we were taught last year, all plans are necessarily tentative, but the league is cautiously optimistic that we will have practices and games at some point this year, even if adjustments must be made upon changes in our status with regard to the pandemic.
For the time being, there are some important dates for all league families to note.
Registration Deadlines
In order to properly plan for the season, registration will close on February 14.Parent and Coaches Meetings
These meetings will be conducted virtually this year, which will make it easier than ever for a high turnout! They will again both be held on the same night, in succession, on February 24.Practices Begin
Practices are set to being on March 13 for the Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, and Pony divisions. Shetland players will begin practices on April 5.Opening Days
Barring unforeseen delays, league play for Pinto, MuStang, Bronco, and Pony divisions will begin the same day Shetland begins practice, April 5. Shetland will begin on either April 17 or April 24.The Big Pee-Wee Clean-up Day
Every year, volunteers gather at our baseball venue to help get the fields prepared for the season. There is plenty of work needed to have the fields and surrounding area ready for even the start of practices and tasks available for any and all levels of experience and capabilities. So please, if you are able, be ready to come to the fields on March 20th to help in any way you can!
For more information on all of the above, go here.
Congratulations to the West Seattle High School athletes who signed letters of intent for National Signing Day today! WSHS qthletic director Corey Sorenson sent word of these five:
West Seattle National Signing Day 2021
Nate Rasmussen: Signing with Bellevue College for baseball, planning to major in business.
Aliya Couillard: Signing with Long Island University for soccer, planning to major in forensic science.
Kambel Fiser: Signing with Adelphi University for volleyball, planning to major in exercise science.
Nic Chantorn: Signing with Bellevue College for golf, planning to major in civil engineering.
Lauryn Nguyen : Signing with Northwestern University for golf, planning to major in communications, with a minor in business institutions.
All five also shared memories and gratitude you can read about here, or below:
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Bowl)
Advancing to Phase 2 in the state’s “Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery” plan means some businesses can reopen for limited capacity after two months of total closure. Among them, West Seattle Bowl. They’re planning to reopen the 39th SW/SW Oregon bowling center next Thursday (February 4th), 3 pm-9 pm, with the same hours on Friday (February 5th), then noon-8 pm on Saturday, February 6th, but they’ll be closed on Super Bowl Sunday, After that, says WS Bowl’s Jeff Swanson, “We will resume similar hours to what we were doing in September-November.” (Here’s our story from September.) The WS Bowl website should be updated soon with new info.
Students planning to play sports for Seattle Public Schools when they resume this year need to be ready, so this clinic is being offered next week in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement:
The Denny Wellness Center, located inside of Denny International Middle School, is hosting a Sports Physical Clinic.
WHEN: January 25th- 29th, 8:00 – 4:30 pm
WHERE: Denny Wellness Center located inside of Denny International Middle School [2601 SW Kenyon]
WHO: Any Seattle Public School student who is interested in playing sports and has not yet had a physical or whose physical has expired.
COST: We do not charge fees or copays, though we may bill your insurance. There is no cost to you. No student will be denied services due to inability to pay.
STEP 1: Register by scanning the QR code in the flyer with your phone or call our clinic to request a registration form via email.
STEP 2: Call 206-923-2809 to schedule your appointment!
Students may also be seen at their local school-based clinic. For more Neighborcare Health school-based locations, go here.
Another local youth-baseball league is registering players, to be ready for the possibility of playing this spring – here’s the announcement:
Registration is officially open for the West Seattle Baseball Spring Season! Be a part of the 60-year tradition in West Seattle. We welcome boys and girls ages 4-18. Please visit westseattlebaseball.com to reserve your child’s spot!
West Seattle Baseball, the largest youth recreational baseball league in the area, has opened registration for the coming 2021 Spring Season on its website westseattlebaseball.com. Parents of children between the ages of 4 to 18 are invited to secure their spots in what is certain to be a memorable season.
West Seattle Baseball has a 60-year tradition of serving the youth of West Seattle and its neighboring communities. As an affiliate of PONY Baseball, West Seattle Baseball does not have residency requirements for participation, so your child can play their spring baseball with friends from different parts of the area.
As was the case for so many, our volunteer-run organization was presented with many challenges in 2020 and is looking forward to giving the children of our community the best baseball season possible this year! In order to be prepared to start as soon as we are allowed, we have changed how parents will register their players this year.
Due to lingering uncertainty with regard to state-mandated restrictions:
-All registrants will be “waitlisted” until we have the go-ahead from local officials to play. Your registration is a reservation.
-NO MONEY will be collected until we know with certainty that we will be playing.
-The league will publish and follow a comprehensive safety plan based on state and local guidelines.
Another local Little League has opened registration for spring – this time, it’s West Seattle Little League. Here’s the announcement;
Think Spring 2021 and register today for West Seattle Little League. West Seattle Little League registration for spring 2021 is now open for all youth ages 4-14. We have added two new divisions – an Intermediate 50/70 team for our league 13-years that missed out on their final Majors season, and a Junior team age 14. Visit our website to learn more about each of our divisions of play.
WSLL is committed to making baseball available to ALL players. Scholarship opportunities are available here. Check out westseattlelittleleague.com for more information.
On Saturday, we published the registration information for Southwest Little League. You can determine league eligibility by using this lookup.
Will there be sports in spring? Hard to say, but volunteer league organizers have to be ready, and that’s why they’re opening registration. The first announcement we’ve received is from Southwest Little League. You can register online now, or in person next month at two masked/distanced events, noon-2 pm February 6th and 13th, both at the “little log cabin” at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd). You can check a prospective player’s division eligibility here. If you have questions, information@southwestlittleleague.org is the league’s email address.
11:02 AM: The WSU-Cal game‘s not until 1 pm, but tailgating of a sort started early today for Cougar superfan Paul Twibell and friends. He sent the screenshot and report:
This morning ESPN’s College Gameday was live from Alki, if only for a couple of seconds. Paul Twibell’s Cougulance was featured with friends waving WSU flags to keep a streak alive. Today was the 256th consecutive episode that a WSU flag has been waved during the show. Paul, who owns the Cougar-themed ambulance frequently parked on Admiral Way, was joined by Cougar friends Stacey Ellingson, Collin Cejka, Darren Case, Barb Harrington, Chloe Woodward, Makenzee Jundal, and Wagz. ESPN has modified their normal “Fan Pit” to be virtual, featuring fans from across the nation. Twibell was up at 5 am this morning to set up a camera and lighting for the 7:30 am two seconds of fame. GO COUGS!
(The onscreen “West Point” reference was because ESPN’s featured game this week is Army vs. Navy, Paul explains.)
1:03 PM: Side note, no WSU game today after all – canceled at the last minute due to COVID concerns in the Cal program.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Once the Lowman Beach Park seawall and tennis court are removed, will a new sport court be installed elsewhere in the park?
More than 50 people attended last night’s online community meeting, the next step in the process. They saw four “concepts” – a full-size court that could accommodate tennis and more, two versions of a “medium-size” court, and a court-less option with “amenities.”
The community group advocating for a new court, the Seattle Sports Complex Foundation, obtained a city grant for planning and schematic design, but funding would have to be found beyond that to actually install something. With that in mind, the project team – led by HBB Landscape Architecture – is on track to complete a schematic design by year’s end.
For the meeting, on hand from the project team were Aaron Luoma and Rachel Dotson from HBB, as well as Pamela Kliment from Parks and Lisa Uemoto from the Department of Neighborhoods.
Luoma recapped the plan that’s leading to the removal of the existing tennis court – the removal of the failing seawall and transform the area into something more natural, with an expanded beach and daylighted Pelly Creek. It’s going out to bid soon. With that and other existing features including underground utilities led to the designation of an “opportunity area” in the southeast part of the park for this potential project.
One West Seattle event of note tonight: The second community meeting about a proposed sport court at Lowman Beach Park. The upcoming seawall-removal project will also take out the current tennis court; though there’s no replacement in the plan, a community group is pursuing a proposal to build a sport court – not necessarily tennis, or just tennis – elsewhere in the park (see the “opportunity area” above). That group got a grant for a survey and community meeting (here’s our August coverage here), and plans to announce the results and next steps tonight, 6:30 pm online. To attend:
Meeting number: 146 733 7298
Password: lowmanbeach
(Link here)
Join by phone – 206-207-1700
Two running notes:
SALTY HALF: Found out belatedly that this small half-marathon happened this morning in West Seattle, so if you saw runners on a shore route (between Don Armeni and Lincoln Park) and were wondering – as was the case for one WSB commenter – that’s what was up.
WEST SEATTLE RAGNAR: Athena Frederick of We Sweat-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) sent the photos and note:
We Sweat is hosting a virtual ragnar relay today at Alki and Lincoln Park. 12 west seattle mom’s, we have run 10 Ragnar’s together and missed this year due to COVID. We planned a socially distanced event with 12 ladies running over 120 miles!
We are calling it the West Seattle Island Ragnar with tanks from Alair. If you see ladies in pink and blue running today, that’s us!
That’s what the summit at Stevens Pass looked like before nightfall – snow has arrived in the Cascades, and if the weather cooperates, ski season won’t be too far away. And that means the timing is perfect for this year’s West Seattle Ski Swap, which Mountain to Sound Outfitters is presenting next weekend. If you have gear to sell, Friday (October 16th) is your dropoff day; Saturday and Sunday (October 17-18) are the sale days, at VFW Post 2713 (3601 SW Alaska, right across the street from M2SO). It’s an annual event for community members to “buy and sell skis, snowboards, boots, clothing, winter accessories, and more!” Sale hours will be Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 10 am-4 pm, after sellers drop off their items 3-7 pm Friday. Sellers can register here.
When the remaining seawall is removed at Lowman Beach Park, the tennis court will be too. Though there’s no replacement in the plan, a community group has been pursuing a proposal to build a sport court – not necessarily tennis, or just tennis – elsewhere in the park. In a grant-funded planning process, that group has conducted a survey and a community meeting (WSB coverage here), and has now announced the next step:
You are invited to participate in our 2nd virtual open house to see the results of the survey and the concept alternatives. Previously, the 1st virtual open house presented the challenges and opportunities in locating a new racket court at Lowman Beach Park.
Lowman Beach Racket Court New Design Virtual Open House #2
Monday, October 19, 2020, 6:30 pm
Meeting number: 146 733 7298
Password: lowmanbeach
(Link here)Join by phone – 206-207-1700
See the meeting flyer here.
What’s missing in the lanes at West Seattle Bowl? You! lf you heard bowling was only open to league play – WS Bowl actually has a “club” you can join, which allows you to come in and play (2 bowlers maximum per lane). The bowling center explains:
In collaboration with the Governor’s office and Department of Health, the bowling industry in Washington has developed protocols which have allowed us to be open in Phase 2 & 3.
We are allowed to be open for club/league play and practice – see our VIB/Starter Clubs page under the Leagues tab for more details on how you can easily become a Club member.
-Masks must be worn at all times (without exception).
-6′ social distancing must be maintained everywhere in the center.
-The most noticeable change will be a limitation of 2 bowlers per lane maximum, as well as restrictions against movement throughout the center, with no spectators allowed.
Here’s a direct link to the club-signup page. WS Bowl is open 1-10 pm Mondays, 3 pm-10 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, 2 pm-10 pm Fridays, 9 am-10 pm Saturdays, 9 am-7 pm Sundays.
Tomorrow, a benefit tournament at the West Seattle Golf Course will pay tribute to a longtime West Seattleite, and you can participate without golfing or even going to the course. Sally Hardwick explains:
We are having a charity golf tournament to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank this Thursday, September 10th, in honor of Don Bereiter, who recently passed away from cancer. Don was well-known and loved in the West Seattle community, where he was the managing broker at Prudential NW Real Estate (later Berkshire Hathaway) and most recently our branch manager at Windermere in the West Seattle Junction.
Don will be remembered for his sense of humor and eagerness to help others. Golf was one of his passions, and he was a big part of this tournament in years past—it will be a wonderful way to celebrate a truly great man!
Michael Mallagh (Windermere) and Stephanie Quam (Old Republic Home Protection) are the driving forces (pardon the pun) in getting this put together at the last minute. We were all in shock after Don’s passing in July and almost couldn’t get this on the books but I think it will be a big success despite it being hastily organized! We already have all 18 holes sponsored, and nearly a full course of golfers.
Raffle tickets are still available! 100% of the proceeds from the Golf Tournament and Raffle will be presented to the West Seattle Food Bank and our friends at Pepsi will match all contributions made! Raffle Tickets can be purchased and are $10 each … and you do not have to be present to win; you will be notified if you have one of the lucky tickets drawn on the 10th!
Raffle Tickets & Donations: @Michael-Mallagh (Venmo) or michaelmallagh@gmail.com (PayPal)…personal / company check is fine too (made out to Michael Mallagh) – donation receipt will be sent. Contact event organizers Michael Mallagh (mallagh@windermere.com 206-501-5600), Stephanie Quam (stephanieq@orhp.com 425-691-8768) or Sally Hardwick (sally@windermere.com 206-795-9097).
September’s here but summer’s not over yet. West Seattle Reign Volleyball sent this announcement:
We have fall volleyball teams with open spots for September-October.
These are Co-Ed teams grouped by age; 10-11, 12-13 & 14-17.
Details and registration information can be found at https://bookwhen.com/westseattlereign
As explained at that link, “All teams will maintain social distancing and mask requirements per Washington State’s COVID-19 guidelines.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the crumbling seawall is removed at Lowman Beach Park, the tennis court that’s a few steps east of it will be taken out too.
But a community effort to replace it elsewhere in the park is proceeding – and the big question, as discussed at an online meeting Wednesday night, is what exactly that replacement could/should offer – maybe more than racket sports.
More than 40 people attended.
One more reminder since we didn’t publish a daily-preview list today – if you’re interested in a racket court at Lowman Beach Park, once the seawall-removal project takes out the existing tennis court, don’t miss tonight’s online meeting – 6:30 pm. Our preview has info on how to view/participate.
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